Card sorting machine



April 21, 1953 B.L. MlSl- 'l EY CARD SORTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 19493 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

81/! K5 4' MHHAY Arron/5n Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CARD SORTING MACHINE Blake L. Mishey, Lyndhurst, Ohio ApplicationNovember 19, 1949, Serial No. 128,465

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sorting machines and more particularly to anew and improved machine for sorting material of a flexible nature "suchas checks, cards, coupons, sales slips, tickets and other like items andfor the purpose of this description such items are hereinafter referred"to as cards.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a new andimproved sorting machine wherein a stack of cards to be sorted arepositioned in a container and mechanically picked up individually anddeposited in receiving receptacles in accordance with nomenclatureappearing thereon, which may be alphabetical or numerical, without thenecessity of manually handling the cards or providing the same withspecial sorting provisions such as punchings, cutouts, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a sorting machine newand improved means for mechanically picking up the top card from a stackand depositing it upon a conveyor for transmission to a predetermineddesignated receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a sortingmachine means for coordinating the pick up mechanism and transmissionmechanism to efiect a more rapid sorting of the cards.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sorting machinefor cards made of a flexible material which is simple to manufacture,positive in operation, economical to use and is more efficient thansimilar devices now in use, and further may be operated at maximum speedcommensurate with the ability of the operator using the device.

These and other objects and advantageous features of the invention notat this time more particularly pointed out will become more apparent asthe nature of the invention is better understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts,and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sorting machine made in accordance withthe present invention with parts thereof broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is a side "elevational view of the sorting machine illustratedin Figure '1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view or thepick upmechanism of the sorting machine;

Figure 4; 1.15 a fragmentary elevational view of the solenoid forcontrolling the actuation of the pick up mechanism taken on the line 4-!of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram covering theelectrical circuit of the solenoid shown in Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a schematic electric circuit diagram covering theelectrical circuit of the magnet employed for controlling the selectorbars of the transmission mechanism;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus taken on theline 8--8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure1;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-Iii of Figure 1 andshowing the switch in the magnet circuit illustrated in Figure 7-;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line !l-l| of Figure l andillustrating the solenoid circuit switch controlled by the keyboard ofthe device; and

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are enlarged diagrammatic views illustrating thepick up roll shaft and solenoid cam in successive stages of operation.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated asorting machine embodying the teachings of the present invention andcomprising a base frame It), the top surface H of which serves as asupporting surface upon which the mechanism of the device is disposed.The forward end of the frame It! supports the pick up mechanism of thedevice and is broadly indicated by the numeral [2, and the rear portionof the frame supports the transmission and stacking mechanism of thedevice and is indicated broadly by the numeral I3.

The pick up mechanism l2 mounted on the forward end of the frame Inincludes a boxlike open top container l4 (Figure 3) adapted to receive astack of cards A to be sorted, and having a pair of spaced side walls I5and [6, formed at their rearward edge portions with inturned verticalflanges l1 and 18 respectively. The container is supported on footmembers 19 formed on walls 15 and 16 which are preferably secured in anysuitable manner to the supporting surface (I l. A front wall 2!! whichis boxlike in configuration receives the front edges 'of the sidemembers 15 and I6 and completesthe container for the stack of cards A.The top flange 21 of the wall 20 is adapted to engage the forward edgeportion of the top card of the stack of cards and each successive one asthe cards are picked up from the stack. Within the container I4 thestack of cards is disposed upon an elevator platform 22 (see Figure 9)having guide pins 23 depending from the lower surface thereof andslidably received within suitable openings in a supporting member 24secured to and extending between the side frame members I and I6.Encircling the pins 23 and positioned between the platform 22 andsupport member 24 are compression springs 25 which serve to normallyurge the platform upwardly so as to have the uppermost card of the stackdisposed on the platform in proper position to be removed therefrom bythe pick up mechanism.

The rearmost corners of the side frame members I5 and [6 are continuedupwardly above the top of the container I4 and terminate in forwardlyprojecting ears 26. Horizontally journaled in the upward extensions ofthe side frames I5 and i6 and extending thereb-etween is a rotatableshaft 2? which is arranged to extend over the top of the stack of cardsA disposed in the container [4. Keyed to the shaft 27 intermediate theextremities thereof is a roller 28 (Figure 12) which is suitably slottedas at 29 to receive a strip of rubber 30. The rubber strip to projectsoutwardly from the surface of the roller 28 and when the latter isrotated is adapted to frictionally engage the surface of the top card ofthe stack of cards A which is firmly pressed thereagainst by springs 25acting on platform 22. Rotatively mounted on the shaft 2! and positionedat each end of the roller 28 are idler rollers 3|, the purpose of whichwill be described hereinafter. The shaft 21 projects beyond the sidemember I5 of the container l4 and has keyed on its outer end an arm 32,the latter having pin 33 projecting from its outer end in a directionparallel with the axis of the shaft 21.

With reference to Figure 4-. of the drawings there is illustratedmechanism for controlling the rotation of the shaft 27. Secured to theouter surface of the side wall I5 is a U-shaped bracket 34, the freearms 35 of which project in a horizontal position and have mountedtherebetween a solenoid 3B. The solenoid 36 is provided with a plunger31, the upper end of which projects through the upper arm 35 of thebracket 34. Spaced from the upper arm 35 and secured to the plunger 31is a plate 38 which is suitably apertured to receive the upstanding pins39 mounted on the upper arm 35 of the bracket 34. Encircling the pins 39and serving to urge the plunger 31 upwardly and maintain it in itsextended position with respect to the solenoid 36 are compressionsprings 40. Mounted on the free end of the solenoid plunger 31 is acamelement 4i. The surface of the element 4| facing the arm s2 is formedwith spaced horizontal slots 42 and 43 projecting from opposite sides ofthe element and connected at their inner ends with a vertical slot 44.All of the slots are of the same width and are adapted to receive theend of pin 33. Rotation of the shaft 21 is controlled by the position ofthe cam element 4| mounted on plunger shaft 31.

The opposite end of shaft 21 projects beyond the side member I6 and haskeyed thereon a wheel 45, the peripheral surface of which is coveredwith a suitable friction material 46. A spring 4'! extending between apin 48 mounted on the side frame member 16 an P n 9 on the wheel 45serves to urge the wheel 45 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewedin Figure 3 of the drawings. Carried on the base member I0 is a bracket5! which is adapted to support a motor 52. The driven shaft 53 of themotor 52 carries a wheel 54, the periphery of which is arranged toengage the periphery of the wheel 45 and drive the latter. The motor andwheel 54 are continuously rotating. Accordingly, the surface of thewheel 45 is cut away as at 55 complemental to the surface of the wheel54 to provide an area of non-engagement between wheels 45 and 54.

As viewed in Figure 12 the shaft 21 is held against rotative movement bythe position of pin 33 in the bottom of vertical slot 44 of cam element4|. When the solenoid 36 is energized the plunger carrying the camelement ii is moved downwardly and pin 33 passes upwardly in slot 44 andinto alignment with slot 42 thereby releasing pin 33 from the camelement. Release of pin 33 by the cam element ii permits spring 47 torotate shaft 2? beyond the area of non-engagement between the wheels 45and 54 to the position shown in Figure 13 where wheel 54 is effective torotate wheel 45. As roller 28 carried by shaft 2! is rotated the rubberstrip carried thereby engages the top card of the stack and buckles itup as shown in Figure 13. Con tinued rotation snaps the flexible card towhere the rearward edge portion thereof lies on the upper surface of theroller 28 as shown in Figure 14, in which position the shaft hascompleted one full rotation and is in the position shown in Figure 12.The solenoid upon being de-energized permits the upward movement of thecam it in response to pressure of the springs 41} thereby bringing slot43 of the cam element into registry with the end of pin 33 (Figure 12)which enters the same and positions itself at the lower extremity of thevertical slot 44 in position for the succeeding cycle of operation.

Mounted on the surface II of the base iii forward of the container I 4is an elongated switch box 51 formed of a suitable electrical insulatingmaterial. The box 57 is of inverted U-shape in cross section, the legsof which are cut away to form longitudinal slots 58 and 59. Mounted inthe slot 58 is a conductor bar 60 which is connected through conductorGI to one terminal of a transformer 62. The slot 59 carries a conductorbar 33 which is connected to one outlet of solenoid 36 through conductor64. The other outlet of solenoid 36 is connected to the other terminalof transformer 62 through conductor 65. Extending through the topsurface of the box 5'! is a plurality of openings, each of which isadapted to receive a switch button 65, the lower surface of which issupported on the end of a spring element 61, the other end of which isconnected to conductor bar 63. The spring element 67 adjacent the bottomof button as carries contact button Iii. Extending from the conductorbar 60 is a plurality of arms TI having contact buttons 12 mounted ontheir outer free ends and arranged to be engaged by contact buttons Ill.When a switch button as is depressed, bringing contact buttons iii and52 into engagement, an electrical circuit is closed through the solenoid36 as illustrated in the wiring diagram of Figure 6.

Suitably positioned on the surface II of the base plate It] are aplurality of upstanding studs 13, being secured to the base plate by athreaded shank which extends therethrough and receives a nut "I4 belowthe plate. Each stud :131is1provided with'a bifurcated end :15 receivingtherein a lever arm 16. Apin =II extending through the bifurcated end ofthe stud I3 and the arm 10 provides a pivotal connection for the arm 16.The lever arm 1'6 is provided with a key top I for manual operation. Thelower edge surface of the arm IB'adjacentthe button "I8 is provided witha dependingprojection "I9 which is adapted to engage the upper-surfaceof button '66 for ac s tuating the same. :AS shown in "Figures 1and 3 of the drawings, there are provided ten of the lever arms I0, eachwith a *key top mounted thereon. The key tops "are assigned to the tennumerical characters 0 tox9 inclusive. The huntber of lever arms may beincreased incase ass'orting other than numerical is used.

Extending in straight alignment b'a'ckwar dly from the pick up mechanismI2 is the transmission and stacking mechanism I3, comprising asubstantially rectangular frame having longitudinal side members 80 and8 I and end members 82 and 83. The frame is supported on base I0 in ahorizontal alignment with the upper surface of roll 28 by means ofcolumns 84 disposed at the four corners thereof. The opposed sidesof'the side members 80 and 8| of the frame are provided with alignedjournals 85 which support therebetwee'n shafts 86. Rotatably mounted 'oneach of the shafts 86 in longitudinal alignment are idler rollers 81.Disposed betweeneach'set of rollers 81 is a transverse partition 88which defines a plurality of stacking receptacles 89. .An inclined plate90 is disposed inthe bottom of each receptacle to facilitate th'ealignment of the cards disposed therein.

Journaled in the ears 26 of the side members I and I6 of the containerI4 is a shaft 9i which has rotatably mounted thereon spaced rollers 92and 93 which are disposed in 'alignment'with ithe rollers 81 carried onthe shafts 86. At the rear of the transfer mechanism I3 and journaled inthe frame members 80 'and BI is a shaft'lll upon which are mountedspaced rollers 95 and 96. The rollers 95 and 98 are in longitudinalalignment with the rollers 02 and 93, respectively, on shaftBl. Aconveyor belt 91 is adapted to pass around members 92 and 95 and asecond conveyor belt 98 passes around the rollers "93 and 96. The shaft94 is'adaptedto'b'e drivenbymeans of an electric motor 99 through acoupling I00. The motor 99 is preferably supported upon the rear portionof the supporting plate I0 by means of asuitable bracket I0l.

Extending longitudinallyof the "transfer mechanism I3 are a plurality ofstacked strip members I02 which define runways therebetween throughwhich the cards picked up by the pick up mechanismfiare conveyed bybelts 9! and '98 to the receptacles 89. Thestac'ked strip members I02are of progressively increasing length from the bottom of the stacktowards the top. The forward ends of the strip members have rounded endedges which "rest on plate I25 supported between end frame "member 82and cross member 82a extending between side frame members 80 and 8| andeach strip defines'with the next adjacent strip a runway through which acard is adapted to be conveyed. The rearward end of the .strip membersis supported by the top edge of partitions 88 as at 80a "and is inclineddownwardly to direct the card carried thereby into a receptacle 89.

Mounted below the plate 125 is a Ifram'e H0 vertically movable selectorbars ilrlrl. The selector bars project through "apertures in the plateI25 and are provided with: inclined upper surface I I2, the apex ofwhich is positioned immediately behind the .forward edge of e'a'ch ofthe members I02. There is provided'on'e of the selector bars III foreach of the runways defined by two adijacent members I02. Adjacent "thelower end of each of the selector bar's I' I-I there is provided anoutwardly projecting pin which is received within the bifurcated endportion II4 of the end of the lever arm 1.B,the latter being extended toengage the stud I:I:3 uponithep'a'r- 'ticular selector b'ar wI'rI I.which :it is adapted to actuate. Upon movement "of "a card along thetransmission mechanism in response to movement of the belts 91 and'i98,the operator, by depressing one of the keys I0, projects the upper end"I I2 of the member II I into the 'path of the card thereby deflecting:it into the tlesi-gnated. runway. Supported by a bracket 126 'on frameH0 is an electromagnet I'I5 which extends the length "of the group ofselector bars 'I IzI an'd is adapted to attract a projection I2!'forr'ned on the bars III when the same is brought into proximity to themagnet. When energized the "magnet :is adapted to hold one of themembers I lI in "its elevated position until the current "to the magnetis interrupted.

Positioned immediately rearwardl'y or the second last runway .intheipathof travel of a =card along the transmission mechanism is a switch I I6which takes the Storm illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings. Theswitch I IS is supported on the longitudinal frame imemberlll andha's anangulated arm II! which rproj'ects over "the path of a card being movedalong by the conveyor belts 91 and 98. The arm 11 1 is pr'ovided with "adownwardly inclined spring contact member I I'8 which is connected to anelectric conductor H ll. An arm I 20 extending outwardly fromtlhe-member '81 carries an upwardly inclined "spring contact member I21which is connected to conductor I22. The arms I-I I and are "preferablymade of electrical insulating material and serve to support the"contacts I18 and I-2 I in such a manner that their extremities arenormally in contact so that :a circuit "therea'cro'ss is maintained at"all times.

'With reference to :F'igure '7 the electrical cir- "cuit for the :magnetH5 is described as follows: Current inows from a transfo'rnrier I23through conductor I19 to contact element 'Il'8 of switch 1H6, thence toC'Ollttfit element l2] through line 1-22 to on'e'terminal of magnet H5,thence from the other terminal of magnet I I S through conduotor I 24 tothe other terminal or transformer I 23. The circuit to themagnetisnormally-closed, energizing the magnet lat an time's. Upondepressing one of the keys 218 the il'ever arm 16 actuated thereby ispivoted about its stud T3 raising a member IJIII which is 'held in itselevated position by the-magnet I1 5. A-card movin along the conve or"is adapted to pass between contacts II8 and I2I opening the circuit tothe magnet I I 5 which permits the member "I I I previously elevated bylever 1 6 to :drop to its normal position.

32in using the device of the -'present "invention for numerical'assorting, a stack of unassorted cards, number side up, is placed uponthe platform '22 in the container M, the forward edges thereof beingprojected under the flange 2| of the front plate 20. To *e'fiectthis thespring 23 which is adapted tohouse therein aplurality or In rare :de'ressed to zpermit' the stacking o'f'the cards A. The motor 99 -isstarted thereby setting in motion the belts 97 and 98 which as viewed inFigures 1 and 2 move in a clockwise direction. The motor 5! is startedthereby setting in operation the driving wheel 54 which as viewed inFigures 12, 13 and 14 is moving also in a clockwise direction.

Assuming that the number on the topmost card is H45, the operatordepresses the key bearing the numerical designation 5, note Figures 1and 3. The single downward stroke of this key closes the circuit to thesolenoid 36, the current flowing from the transformer 62 throughconductor 6|, thence across the contacts H and 12 through conductor 64to solenoid 36 and thence through conductor 55 to the other terminal oftransformer 62 to complete the circuit. Energization of the solenoid 36retracts plunger 31 moving cam element 4! downwardly to release the pin33. In response to pressure of spring 41 the periphery of wheel 45 isbrought into engagement with the continuously rotating wheel 54 and theformer is caused to make one complete revolution rotating shaft 2'! andthe roller 28 carried thereby.

Immediately following the start of the turn of roller 28 the frictionsurface of the element 30 carried thereby comes in contact with thesurface of the top card, causing it to buckle and the rearward edgethereof to move beyond the outer surface of roll 28. At thi point theedge of the card snaps upwardly and lays upon the roll 28 as shown inFigure 14. In this position, since the pressure exerted on the leadingedge of the top card between moving belts 97 and 98 and rollers 3| isgreater than that exerted on the trailing edge of said card between theflange 2| and the supporting stack of cards, now projected under themoving belts 91 and 98, is gripped between the same and rollers 3i andby the same force conveyed by said belt over the top surfaces of rollers81. Depressing the key 5 pivots the lever 16 associated therewith aboutits pivot pin 11 moving the selector bar Ill connected to the outer endthereof vertically to bring the inclined surface H2 thereof into thepath of the moving card. The card with its top surface adjacent to thefrictionized belts and its bottom surface supported by the smooth plateI25 is moved by the belts along the conveyor with its central portiondeflected upwardly into the runway leading to the receptacle controlledby the number 5 key. The card when it has entered the runway is urgedrearwardly by the belts making frictional contact with the right andleft top surface of said card with intermittent support on the bottomsurface by the spaced idler rollers 81. The magnet H5 maintains theselector bar III in it elevated position upon release of the key 18,until the card passes between the contact elements I I8 and IZI ofswitch I I 6 breaking the circuit to the magnet I I5 and permitting theselector bar II I to return to its normal position. Immediately uponpassage of the card past the switch H6 the circuit to the magnet H5 isclosed.

Each card in container I4 is picked up, conveyed to and deposited in itsrespective receiving receptacle 89, in a similar manner as thatdescribed above by depressing the key bearing the numerical designationof the units digit of the number appearing on the respective card.

When the stack of cards originally placed in the container l4.isdisposed of as above described and this does not constitute the entiregroup of cards to be sorted, another stack of unassorted cards is placedin container I 4 and likewise assorted to the units digits of thenumbers appearing on the respective cards. This procedure is repeated asnecessary until all of the cards to be assorted have been disposed ofand then the cards are removed from the respective receptacles andstacked numbered side up, in numerical order in respect to the unitsdigits. The entire re-assembled group of cards is again processedthrough the machine, the same procedure as that described above beingrepeated with respect to the next digit of the numbers, for example the"10 digit of the numbers, and this complete operation is repeated untilan assortment of all of the numbers has been made with respect to all ofthe digits controlling the numbers thereon. Upon completion of thisassortment, the stacking of the tickets will arrange them in numericalsequence.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to obtain by LettersPatent is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinallyof the machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a pluralityof receptacles adapted to receive cards from said conveyor, a pluralityof runways positioned above said conveyor and starting forward- 1y ofsaid receptacles adapted to guide cards moving along said conveyor intosaid receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacentthe forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept thetravel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into one ofsaid runways, manually actuated means for moving separate selector barsinto the path of the moving cards, magnetic means for maintaining saidselector bars in their elevated position, pick up means for moving thetop card from a stack disposed at one end of the conveyor onto saidconveyor, and electrically controlled means for actuating said pick upmeans.

2. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinallyof the machine, a plurality of belts for moving cards along saidconveyor, a plurality of horizontally arranged receptacles positionedbelow the conveyor and adapted to receive cards, a plurality of runwayspositioned above said conveyor starting forwardly of said receptaclesserving to guide cards moving along said conveyor into said receptacles,vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacent the forwardterminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel of thecards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways,manually actuated means for moving separate selector bars into the pathof the moving cards, magnetic means for maintaining said selector barsin their elevated position, means responsive to the movement of a cardfor releasing said selector bars and permitting the return thereof tonormal position, pick up means for moving the top card from a stackdisposed at one end of the conveyor onto said conveyor, and electricallycontrolled means for actuating said pick up means.

3. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinallyofthe machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a pluralityof receptacles arranged horizontally below said conveyor adapted toreceive cards being sorted, a plurality of runways superimposed oneabove the other starting forwardly of said receptacles for guiding cardsmoving along said conveyor into said receptacles, vertically movableselector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runwaysand aranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyor anddirect the same into said runways, manually actuated means for movingseparate selector bars into the path of the moving cards, magnetic meansfor maintaining said selector bars in their elevated position, acontainer positioned at the forward end of said conveyor adapted toreceive a stack of cards to be sorted, pick up means for moving the topcard from the stack disposed in said container onto said conveyor, andelectrically controlled means for actuating said pick up means.

4. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinallyof the machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a pluralityof receptacles horizontally arranged below the conveyor for receivingsaid cards, a plurality of runways positioned above said conveyorstarting forwardly of said receptacle and adapted to guide cards movingalong said conveyor into designated receptacles, vertically movablese1ector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus of said runwaysand arranged to intercept the travel of the cards along said conveyorand direct the same into said runways, pick up means for moving the topcard from a stack disposed forwardly of the conveyor onto said conveyor,electrically controlled means for actuating said pick up means, and aplurality of manually actuated keys for simultaneously controlling theactuation of said selector bars and pick up means.

5. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinallyof the machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a pluralityof receptacles adapted to receive cards from said conveyor, a pluralityof runways positioned above said conveyor starting forwardly of saidreceptacles and terminating selectively at the entrance to saidreceptacles, selector bars positioned adjacent the forward terminus ofsaid runways and arranged to intercept the travel of the cards alongsaid conveyor and direct the same into said runways, manually actuatedmeans for moving separate selector bars into the path of the movingcards, a container positioned at the forward end of said conveyoradapted to receive a stack of cards to be sorted, pick up means formoving the top card from the stack and delivering same to said conveyor,said pick up means including a roller engageable with the top card ofthe stack, means for rotating the roller through a complete revolution,solenoid actuated cam means for controlling the rotation of said roller,and key members for controlling the solenoid circuit and the movement ofsaid selector bars.

6. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor extending longitudinallyof the machine, means for moving cards along said conveyor, a pluralityof receptacles adapted to receive cards from said conveyor, a pluralityof runways positioned above said conveyor starting forwardly of saidreceptacles and adapted to guide cards moving along said conveyor intosaid receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacentthe forward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept thetravel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same into saidrunways, pick up means for moving the top card from a stack disposedforwardly of the conveyor onto said conveyor, said pick up meansincluding a rotatable shaft carrying card engaging means, a cam memberfor controlling the rotation of said shaft, a solenoid for moving saidcam means into and out of engagement with said shaft, and manuallyactuated means for simultaneously moving separate selector bars andclosing the circuit to said solenoid.

7. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor for moving cardslongitudinally of the machine, a plurality of card receptacles arrangedhorizontally below said conveyor, a plurality of runways superimposedone upon another above said conveyor having the forward end thereofstarting forwardly of the receptacles and terminating selectively abovesaid receptacles for guiding cards moving along said conveyor into saidreceptacles, vertically movable selector bars positioned adjacent theforward terminus of said runways and arranged to intercept the travel ofthe cards along said conveyor and direct the same into said runways,magnetic means for maintaining said selector bars in their elevated cardintercepting position, and means responsive to the movement of a cardalong said conveyor for interrupting the flow of current to saidmagnetic means and thereby releasing said selector bars.

8. A card sorting machine comprising a conveyor for moving cardslongitudinally of the machine, a plurality of card receptacles arrangedbelow said conveyor, a plurality of runways for guiding cards movingalong said conveyor into said receptacles having the forward end thereofpositioned forwardly of the receptacles and terminating selectivelyabove said receptacles, vertically movable selector bars positionedadjacent the forward terminus of said runways and arranged to interceptthe travel of the cards along said conveyor and direct the same intosaid runways, manually actuated means for moving separate selector barsinto the path of the moving cards, magnetic means for maintaining saidselector bears in their elevated position, and means responsive to themovement of a card along said conveyor for interrupting the flow ofcurrent to said magnetic means and thereby releasing said selector bars.

BLAKE L.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re. 20,003 Barnes June 16, 1936' 1,086,351 Dick Feb. 10, 19141,375,241 Trew Apr. 19, 1921 1,471,722 Brooks Oct. 23, 1923 2,397,258Haessler Mar. 26, 1946

